It seems the fans weren’t the only ones less than thrilled about the deferred payment and the lack of excitement it generated for the FedEx Cup playoffs. The PGA Tour announced some changes for 2008 and beyond. Yes, there will still be some deferred payments, but only a percentage.

Money money money money… MONEY – sing it!

Out of the $35 million dollar bonus pool, $10 million still goes to the winner, with $9 million of that in cash and $1 million into the tax-deferred retirement account.The way I understand it, another $6.5 million in cash will be split between the next 9 top finishers and the remaining $18.5 million will be split up into the retirement accounts of the top 149 players behind the winner (including the aforementioned 9 cash prize winners).

Um, okay… I guess that makes it a little bit more exciting for the fans. And more incentive for the players to be in the top 10 if they want any cash. And since the 150th player on the money list this year has already made almost $500K, it’s not like they’re hurting for pocket change. (Following my habit of reporting disparity in the Tours, the 150th player on the LPGA money list made an appalling $12,798. Hrmph. Seriously, that’s not even a yearly mortgage payment.) But I digress, as usual.

Other changes

They also made some changes to the schedule, primarily to allow room for the players to compete in the Ryder Cup. I’m sure it’s also to position the tournaments better for advertisers, ratings and sponsors (again money related).

Personally, I think the real problem is with the points and the structure of the whole thing. Apparently, the powers that be disagree:

“…the Policy Board did not feel the need to make fundamental changes to the overall structure of the competition. Accordingly, no changes have been made in the points distribution in the PGA TOUR Regular Season.”

The good news is they’re still evaluating the points system for the playoffs as they relate to reseeding and distribution. Excellent. Let’s hope they don’t decide it ain’t broke. Unfortunately, they’re only considering feedback from the membership and the PAC, not random golfchicks or bloggers. Incidently, I’m not sure what the PAC even is. Is that the same as the Policy Board? Player’s Advocacy Committee? Policy Assessment Committee? Perfunctory and Aimless Courtesy? Puppets And Commissioners? Perfectly Absurd Council? I better stop now before I can’t.

Anyway… if a PGA or PAC member is looking for ideas, perhaps they’ll check around the interweb. It is in that hope and spirit that I offer my own suggestion. I complained about the FedEx Cup, so it’s only fair I try to offer a solution.

The Golfchick points proposal:

First, when the reseeding occurs, let it be an actual RESET. To Zero points. Limit the playoffs to, say, the top 60 players from the regular season. If you really want 120, that’s fine, too. This points system will work fine to eliminate players along the way. Now, like the marketing says, let’s really make EVERY SHOT COUNT.

Side note: Check it out – my FixedUp Cup logo even has a subliminal arrow kinda like the FedEx one.

Let’s break it down

Players don’t get points for where they place on the leaderboard except in relation to how they got there. Yes, every hole, every good shot:

• 1 point awarded for a fairway hit.
• 1 point awarded for a green hit (in regulation with a par score)
• 1 point awarded for a birdie
• 1 point awarded for an eagle (plus the birdie point)
• 1 point awarded for a double eagle (plus the birdie and eagle points)

Par 3s: Worth a maximum of 3 points (for an ace/eagle). Green hit with birdie: 2 points. Green missed with birdie: 1 point. Green hit with par: 1 point. Green missed with par: 0 points.

Par 4s: Worth a maximum of 5 points (for an ace/double eagle – yes, they get the fairway and green points). Drive the green, make the putt for an eagle: 4 points. Hit the fairway and hole out for eagle: 4 points. Miss the fairway and hole out for eagle: 3 points. Hit the fairway and the green and make the putt for birdie: 3 points. Fairway and green hit for par: 2 points. Fairway hit, green missed, hole out for birdie: 2 points. Fairway missed, green hit with birdie: 2 points. Fairway missed, green missed, hole out for birdie: 1 point.

Par 5s: Worth a maximum of 5 points (for a double eagle – fairway+green+birdie+eagle+double eagle). Hitting the green in two only increases points if converted. Fairway hit, green hit, eagle: 4 points. Fairway hit, green missed, eagle: 3 points. Fairway missed, green hit, eagle: 3 points. Fairway hit, green hit, birdie: 3 points. Fairway missed, green missed, eagle: 2 points. Fairway missed, green missed, birdie: 1 point.

So you see how this can get exciting? Players will be rewarded for hitting fairways and greens but can still make up points by holing out. We might see some strategy changes. Just look at the par 5: A ho-hum birdie is worth the same as an eagle if you missed the fairway. Same with the par 4s: A ho-hum par is worth the same as a birdie if you missed the fairway. Every shot really counts and the projections would be a lot more fun this way, too.

There – that’s my contribution. Feel free to use my points system. I’d appreciate some consideration when you’re naming it, though.

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